Phillies trade rumors: Front office ‘Ticked off’ by Tyler Anderson debacle
What is the Phillies’ Plan B after missing out on Tyler Anderson?
According to Stark, the Phillies would like to add two relievers and a starting pitcher ahead of Friday’s trade deadline. It is possible, however, that they trade for three relievers and transition Ranger Suarez back to the rotation, the role in which he began his career.
“They have a lot of stuff they are willing to try if they can make the right deals,” Stark said. “Look at Dave’s record at the deadline. He is good at this. Even Tyler Anderson — they weren’t giving up anything. That was a weird situation.”
The problem for the Phillies, however, is that their dire starting pitching need could not have come at a worse time. Other than Max Scherzer, the baseball scribe dubs the current market as the worse he can remember. “It’s a grim group,” Stark said. “Once you get past Scherzer, the top of the market is Kyle Gibson — who walked 8 in his last start. Then, Jon Gray from the Rockies — who has won one game on the road all year.”
Starting pitching names who could be in the Phillies’ wheelhouse include Wade Miley, Andrew Heaney, Zach Davies, and Alex Cobb, Stark noted. As far as the bullpen, Stark believes Dombrowski can acquire “one really good reliever,” but it is “doubtful” they land Craig Kimbrel from the Chicago Cubs. Instead, a “Daniel Hudson kind of guy.”
“They’re in on good relievers,” he added. “Taylor Rogers, the left-hander from the Twins … I know he’s hurt, but he’s great. Paul Fry and Tanner Scott, I know they like — both left-handers with really good stuff.”
Dave Dombrowski saw first-hand the 2006 Cardinals surprise and win it all.
In conversation with Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski Wednesday morning, the veteran executive hinted to The Athletic’s Jayson Stark that he knows the team is flawed.
Yet, when looking around in the National League East division, the team is not far behind in the standings from the currently leading New York Mets.
“He doesn’t think there is a really good team in the National League East. It’s flawed, hurt, and vulnerable. The Braves are really hurting,” Stark said. “The Phillies can get in the postseason, and if Wheeler, Nola, and Eflin were pitching well, that’s a team you wouldn’t want to face.”
Dombrowski also made it apparent to Stark that the Phillies have hitters who are capable of hitting good pitching — including J.T. Realmuto, Andrew McCutchen, Bryce Harper, Jean Segura, and Rhys Hoskins.
“That’s how you win in October. When you have a chance to win your division, you should try to take advantage of that,” Stark said, before adding:
“He’s been around a long time. He’s been involved with teams that look really different in July than October (or vice-versa). He lost the World Series in 2006 to a Cardinals team that wasn’t any good. They won 83 games, got hot the last week, and got hot in October. They won the World Series.”
“He sees the value in when you have a chance to get in, to try to get in,” Stark said. “He knows what he is, and knows what he isn’t. He’s not going to make up big overpay.”
The Phillies will surely make at least one move before Friday’s deadline. The team was supposed to play its third of four games in its current series against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, however, the game was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the opposing clubhouse. The game will be made up on Thursday as a single-admission doubleheader, starting at 12:05 p.m.
If anything, Wednesday’s postponement will allow Dombrowski to put his entire focus on the trade market.
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